Robot-Assisted Versus Manual Total Knee Arthroplasty
100 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for end-stage osteoarthritis were randomized to receive either robotic TKA (rTKA; n=50) or manual TKA (mTKA; n=50). The primary outcomes of interest were the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores with a focus on pain, function, stiffness subscales, and total scores. The secondary outcomes of interest included the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D), EQ-5D Visual Analog Scores (VAS) pain scores, and the incidence of any complications. WOMAC pain was significantly better in the rTKA group at 2 and 6 months, whereas, all other outcomes were similar between the two groups. The incidence of complications also were comparable between the two groups. Four patients, however, reported unexplained ongoing knee pain after 6 months in the mTKA group.
